White as lilies was her face

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark portrait of betrayal, opening with an image of angelic purity that quickly curdles into deceit. The narrator describes a woman whose face was "white as lilies," a classic symbol of innocence, but whose smile held a deceptive power, leading her to abandon "faith with foul disgrace." This initial contrast sets the stage for a narrative of broken trust and emotional devastation, where outward beauty masks inner corruption. The central conflict arises from the narrator's unwavering devotion clashing with the woman's rejection and apparent indifference. He "swore my heart my own," yet she "disdainèd," leaving him "overthrown" and "careless of my bitter grieving." The repeated emphasis on his "constant ever, changing never" faith highlights the futility of his vows against her perceived capriciousness, suggesting a deep chasm between his earnestness and her actions. The craft here hinges on the stark juxtaposition of idealized imagery and harsh reality, particularly in the recurring theme of beauty leading to ruin. The narrator laments, "Oh that Love should have the art... To destroy a faithful heart" and later, "For their pride is to remove... And their pride hath straight undone us." This suggests a bitter realization that the very qualities that initially attracted him – her beauty and perhaps her allure – ultimately became the instruments of his undoing, turning potential love into a source of profound despair. This piece resonates through its raw expression of a lover's profound disillusionment. The narrator's final, almost resigned declaration, "I will never change my thought / But grieve that beauty e'er was born / And so I'll live as one forlorn," encapsulates the lasting scar of this betrayal. It’s not just about lost love, but a fundamental questioning of beauty's role when it’s wielded as a weapon, leaving the narrator in a state of permanent sorrow.